Chapter 11: Calamitous Reunion
In the town of Treehaven, the Shepherds approach where Dizzy, Ky, Ben and Nathaniel are.
"Dizzy!" calls out Robin.
"Ah, there you all are!" says Dizzy happily.
As the Shepherds come to a standstill, Robin says, "We got word that you were in trouble. Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine." says Dizzy. "I managed to ward off my attackers."
"By that, I'm assuming you used your powers." says Frederick.
"Yes, but I didn't have a weapon." says Dizzy. "So I had no other choice. Even so, I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize." says Frederick. "At least you only used them to defend yourself, so all is good."
"Well, if nothing else, Ky came to my aid at the request of the mayor here." says Dizzy. "And Ben here also came to my aid."
Ben walks up and says, "A pleasure to meet the legendary Shepherds."
"A pleaseure to meet you, as well." says Robin. "However, I'm sure we need to be getting down to business. Right, Frederick?"
As Robin turns to look at Frederick, she sees that he's got the most flabbergasted look on his face as he looks at Ben.
"Uh, Frederick?" asks Robin. "Is something the matter?"
"I, uh..." says Frederick. "Sorry, it's just... I never thought I would meet Ben Lawrence of the Ylissean Knights again." He then bows to Ben in the most nervous manner and says, "It is an honor to be in your presence again, Captain Ben!"
"Oh, think nothing of it." Ben replies humbly.
"There's plenty to think about!" says Frederick. "You were an inspiration to me since my trainee days!"
"What is Sir Frederick talking about?" asks Dizzy.
"Your guess is as good as mine." replies Robin.
"Oh, that's right!" says Frederick. "None of you are familiar with the famous Silver Lightning, are you?"
"Can't say that I am." says Robin. "Can't forget, I still have amnesia."
"Well, this man was fighting long before we met you." says Frederick. "Ben Lawrence was the greatest warrior in all of Ylisse during the war that Exalt Thaddeus launched. Yes, it was a horrible war, but Captain Ben here was the finest swordsman the land ever had. They say he moves so fast when fighting that all you see are the flashes of silver from his blade as he cuts his enemies down. Hence, that's why he's called 'The Silver Lightning'."
Everyone except for Ben and Frederick are simply stunned.
"Wait a minute!" says Sully. "He's THAT Silver Lightning? THAT Ben Lawrence?"
"That's right." says Frederick. "The one and only."
"HOT DAMN!" says Sully. "About time I met a warrior that I could learn the best from!"
"Aw, come on, all of you." says Ben rubbing the back of his head. "You praise me too much."
"But you're so deserving of it!" says Frederick. "I always aspired to be like you! Sure, we took different paths of mastery as soldiers, but you were still on a plain I could never hope to reach!"
"Frederick, I can't believe I'm seeing you acting like a fanboy!" says Robin.
"I am most certainly NOT acting like a fanboy!" says Frederick defensively. "I just... know great talent when I see it."
"Well, you know me." says Robin.
"Yes, but... let's be fair here: you wouldn't have got far without my guidance." says Frederick.
Robin crosses her arms and says, "Sounds like a mere justification to me."
Dizzy giggles and says, "Got to admit, Sir Frederick, this is definitely a different side of you."
"Well, as fun as this is to talk about my talents, I do have a question for all of you." says Ben.
"Ask away!" says Frederick.
"Well, Lady Dizzy here inspired me to take up my blade again." says Ben. "And for that, I wish to get back into the fray. You all don't have to worry; I talked this over with my wife. So, I'm just going to be blunt: I wish to join the Shepherds."
"Wh-what?" asks a stuttering Frederick. "Y-y-you wish t-t-t-to join the Shepherds?"
"I don't think I stuttered like you just did." says Ben.
"It would be an honor!" says Frederick.
"Hey, I thought I was the leader here!" says Robin. "Sorry about that, Ben. In any case, it would be an honor if you joined the Shepherds."
"I promise to fight and serve the best I can." says Ben.
"That won't be hard for you to do." says Frederick.
"At any rate, I think Gaius should be returning here soon with information on those mercenaries as to where their base is located." says Robin.
"Indeed, I have." says Gaius' voice.
Everyone looks to see Gaius approach them.
"So, have you found where their base is at?" asks Robin.
"Sure thing, Bubbles." says Gaius. "About to the northeast of this village, close to the Feroxi border. Shouldn't take but about an hour to get there. Hopefully, they're still holed up."
"Good." says Robin. "In that case, we make an immediate march for the base. We'll get a small thing of Ylissean Knights to tend to the village. Let's move out, Shepherds!"
"Right!" reply all of the Shepherds.
About an hour later, the Shepherds have approached the fortress where Brutus and his legion were.
"You sure that's it, Gaius?" asks Robin.
"No mistaking it." says Gaius. "Saw a few of the weasels go in. Don't know if any came out, though."
"So, Robin, how do we go about this?" asks Ky.
"I say we get a small diversion of mages to attack the fortress from the outside." says Robin. "They may counter attack us with archers from the top and out the windows. So, we counter with our own bowmen. Eventually, if we can get enough mages to light the place on fire, they'll have to come out, and that's when we'll catch them."
"Sounds like a plan!" says Lissa.
"In any case,let's get to it!" says Robin. "Assume formation!"
However, before anyone can act, they hear a loud voice shout, "RAIDEN!"
"Huh?" asks Robin. "What was th...?"
Before she can finish her sentence, a big, electric blur crashes through the fortress, causing it to collapse, before it smashes into the ground, releasing a gigantic bolt of red lightning.
"Wait! That red lightning!" says Ky. "That could only be one person!"
"SIN!" shouts Dizzy.
As the lightning dies down, Sin is standing there in a crater while above a downed brigand, who seems to be twitching from shock as his body is sparking with crimson electricity.
"In yo' face, dumbass!" says Sin giving a V for victory sign with his free hand.
"Look who's talking." Tharja mutters under her breath.
"SIN!" shouts Dizzy.
"Mom?" says Sin. "Mom, is that you?"
"Yes, it's me!" says Dizzy.
"MOM!" says Sin as he runs up to Dizzy and hugs her.
"Oh, my precious boy!" says Dizzy. "I hope you're alright!"
"I should be saying that you." says Sin. After they cease their hug, Sin says, "Are you okay, Mom? You're not hurt or anything, are you?"
"No, I'm fine." says Sin. "And so happy to see your bright face again."
"Oh, Mom!" says Sin as he goes to hug Dizzy again.
"Good to see you found us, son." says Ky as he approaches.
Sin stops hugging his mom long enough to give his dad a look and says, "Oh, uh... heya, Dad."
"Is that all you have to say to your father?" asks a slightly dismayed Dizzy.
"Right." says Sin as he gives Ky a smile and says, "I'm glad to see you're okay, Dad."
"Well, not to break up the touching reunion, but you did mess up my plans." says Robin to Sin.
"Oh, uh... I did?" asks Sin. "What were your plans?"
"To lure some troublemakers out the fortress you so recklessly demolished." says Robin sternly. "We were hoping to bring them to justice, but now... that ship has pretty much sailed."
Sin looks at the fortress he destroyed and says, "Whoops."
"Well, we may as well go fetch the bodies." says Robin. "I need some volunteers to go with me to check for deceased and any possible survivors."
"Take the Vaike with ya'!" says Vaike. "You'll be needin' his big ol' muscles for some heavy liftin'."
"I'll go, too." says Donnel.
"I may as well tag along." says Tharja. "Knowing me, I'm pretty good at tallying up the dead."
"Lemme' pitch in!" says Sully. "If any try to come out swinging, I'll knock'em flat on their arses!"
"I will also help." says Ben. "They decided to threaten my village, so offering them payback is the least I can do."
"That should be enough." says Robin. "Let's get to it!"
"Can I help?" asks Sin. "I feel pretty bad about this."
"You've helped PLENTY!" says Robin. "Leave this to the people who are a little more 'inhibited'."
Robin and her volunteers go to check the ruins. However, after a while, Robin and the others return empty-handed.
"Well, good news is there's no deceased." says Robin. "Bad news is that we found no one."
"You've got to be kidding me!" says Gaius. "They all bailed?"
"Must have." says Robin. "Means that they're still out there and could strike again. They probably knew we were in the vicinity when Dizzy scared them away. It's about the most likely possibility."
"Oh, Robin, I'm so sorry." says Dizzy.
"It's not your fault, Dizzy." says Robin. "You had to defend yourself from their ambush."
"WHAT?" asks an angered Sin. "Some shitheads decided to hurt my mom? If I didn't kill them before, I should hunt them down and do it for real!"
"Well, THANKFULLY, we'll have another opportunity to stop said shitheads and bring them down the PROPER way." says Robin.
"Gee, she doesn't trust me at all, does she?" asks Sin.
"Well, from what I saw, you did get carried away like usual when you fight." says Dizzy.
"Hey, I just gotta' be me." says Sin.
"Perhaps if you were a little less of you with some practice, I might consider overlooking this screw-up." says Robin. "Right now, bickering and scolding are not important. What is important is finding these hoodlums and stopping them. But right now, I've no clue where they could strike."
"They might have left Ylisse." says Ky. "If they fear authorities, they may not come back if at risk of actually running into you all."
"That is a possibility." says Robin. "However, and it's only a hunch... I think they haven't entirely left Ylisse. Or rather they might be sticking around, just without us knowing where they are."
"What makes you say that?" asks Ky.
"I think it has to do with Dizzy." says Robin.
"Me?" asks Dizzy.
"What the hell does this have to do with my mom?" asks Sin.
"Well, if those members of the mercenaries attacked Dizzy and fled, then they most likely informed their leader." says Robin. "As the Shepherds, we're dangerous enough as is, but with Dizzy... she poses an even greater threat to them. My guess is they want to stick around in finding out how to get rid of our strongest link. That, and this is most likely their first time meeting a Gear. Knowing how some people operate, and how these guys most likely do business, they might end up showing a real interest in Dizzy."
"You take that back, or the next one I pummel is going to be you!" shouts Sin.
"SIN!" says Dizzy.
"Chill down!" says Robin. "It's only a hunch, but even so, we can't deny the possibility. That said, we need to see about returning to Ylisstol and devising what to do in case they strike again."
"Listen to her, son." says Ky. "Lady Robin knows what she's doing."
"Fine, but I better not hear her making another theory that involves my mom again." says Sin. "If she thinks she's pissed with me, she'd better not make me angry!"
"Oh, lovely." says Robin. "Just what I need to contend with: a hothead with zero percent capacity for reason."
"What did you say!?" shouts Sin.
"Sin." says Dizzy is a commanding tone getting him to turn to her. "Stop it. Now."
"Uh, sorry, Mom." says Sin. "Just... I just got a little offended."
"Even so, you need to be a bigger man about this." says Dizzy. "Besides, you need to treat the Queen of Ylisse with more respect."
"Sure." says Sin. "I'm sorry for losing my cool, your majesty. And I'm truly sorry about messing up everything."
"Well, I suppose my respect for you has grown a little, even if it sounds like you only did it because you're afraid of your mother." says Robin. "And from seeing her in action, I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be. But even so, do try your best to not explode when I'm just trying to use facts. Do that, and learn how to follow orders properly, and you may become a vital asset to the Shepherds."
"You really think I could join you guys?" asks Sin.
Robins smiles pleasantly at him for once, and replies, "Well, sure. If anyone has any credentials to join, they can. And from what I saw, you certainly have them. Maybe your technique is reckless and unpolished, but you certainly have power and potential. I think you'd make a great addition if you just learn only to go full power when its neccessary."
"Don't blame our son too much, Lady Robin." says Ky. "Sol Badguy half-heartedly raised him."
"Yeah, it's like I told you." says Dizzy. "Sol is really lazy, and that didn't exactly do well for Sin in both his inhibitions, etiquette or even his education."
"Oh, so he's like Vaike." says Robin.
"HEY!" says Vaike.
"Ha ha! She burned you good, dear!" says Lissa.
"Eh, you could say that." says Ky. "But we're whipping him into shape the best we can... no matter how tough of a time he gives us. Or at least gives Sol and me."
"Man, I just get people kicking me in the nuts verbally left and right." says Sin.
"I'm surprised you know how to properly use the word 'verbally'." says Ky.
"Only because you hammered it into my skull constantly." says Sin. "At any rate, I completely forgot about Dr. Paradigm and Anna."
"Dr. Paradigm was with you?" asks Dizzy.
"Yeah, he was... before I landed in front of all of you." says Sin.
"Speak of the devil." says a familiar voice.
Jus then, Dr. Paradigm and a red-haired woman in a red and yellow outfit with yellow cape arrive. The Shepherds only have odd looks on their faces when they see the Gear while Ky and Dizzy look happy.
"Dr. Paradigm!" says Dizzy.
"Good to see you could make it, Doctor!" says Ky.
Dr. Paradigm looks at the destroyed fotress and giant crater with unconcious brigand inside, then at Sin and says, "Well, you overdid it again, Sin. Why am I not surprised?"
Dizzy floats over to Dr. Paradigm and hugs him, saying, "I missed you so much, Doctor!"
"It's good to see you're alright, Lady Dizzy." says Dr. Paradigm.
Stahl leans over to Cordelia and asks, "Is that a frog-bird-bat creature than can talk?"
"Looks that way." says Cordelia. "We already know Dizzy is a Gear, but she didn't exactly tell us how... unusal others would look."
Sin approaches Dr. Paradigm and says, "Hey, Doc. Sorry I abandoned you all."
"No need to worry too much, Sin." says the doctor. "I at least procurred our reward for protecting the merchant caravan."
Dr. Paradigm holds up a large, brown sack and Sin says with enthusiasm, "So we got money to eat on, now?"
"Indeed we do." says Dr. Paradigm.
"AWESOME!" says Sin.
Robin says after clearing her throat, "Well, since you're now with us, we'll provide any food or shelter you all may need. Right, Frederick?"
"Of course." says Frederick.
"Hey, his name is also Frederick!" says Sin. "Just like the old fart!"
"Well, as uneliquent as that was..." says Ky. "...yes, he has the same real name as Sol."
"Hey, don't forget about little old me!" says the red-haired woman. "I've also decided to join you."
"Really, Anna?" asks Sin.
"That's right." says Anna. "Besides, being a merchant may be fun and the perfect way to get filthy rich, but... even I need a little fun on the battlefield."
"Well, it's great to see you again, Anna." says Robin. "Uh, you ARE the same Anna that fought alongside us back during the Grima Incident, right?"
"Huh?" asks Anna as she looks at Robin and gets the biggest smile on her face. She then says as she runs up to hug Robin, "Robin! It's you!"
"Well, I suppose that answers my question." says Robin.
After ceasing her hug, Anna says, "Oh, I knew you would come back! Just like any true customer would! Oh, I've just got to let my other sisters know! I especially need to tell the Annas of the Hotrealm and Bathrealm about your return! I just know they'll give you and the other Shepherds special vacation packages! And this time, I'll make sure you all get them!"
"That's very lovely, Anna." says Robin. "I'll take you up on that offer."
"Well, if Sin and Dr. Paradigm are going to join you, then so will I!" says Anna. "I say that's an extra-special deal, don't you think?"
"Certainly is." says Robin. "And we've got our own special guests who seem to know yours."
Anna then looks at both Dizzy and Ky, who simply wave.
"Ooh, more customers!" says Anna gleefully. "And such a handsome couple."
"That's my mom and dad." says Sin.
"Really?" asks Anna. "I expected someone older. Are you another child from the future?"
"No." says Sin. "My mom told me that it's my Gear cells that caused me to rapidly mature, just as they did for her... and give her the additional features you've probably already noticed."
"Clearly." says Anna. She then goes over to them, and begins to observe them.
"W-what are you doing?" asks Dizzy.
"Just noticing your physiques." says Anna. "Sorry if this is rather forward, but I need to see just what bodies you have so we know how to fit each of you into a proper swimsuit and yukata for when you all journey to the Hotrealm and Bathrealm."
"Hotrealm?" asks Ky. "And Bathrealm?"
"Yeah." says Anna. "They're vacation-style outrealms. One is of a beach, and the other is of some hot springs in the mountains."
"Wow, I never got to go to the beach before." says Dizzy. "Mainly because I didn't want to upset any humans that were still prejudice against Gears."
"Well, don't worry, miss." says Anna. "You'll be free to do go to the Hotrealm once I put in the good word for my sister there. Same goes for the Bathrealm."
"Actually, that all sounds fun." says Ky. "Especially if I can share such moments with my wife here. To be honest, as the High King of Illyria, I too find myself unable to take part in the more simple pleasures of life."
"Oh, so you're a couple of bluebloods, yourselves." says Anna. "That's perfect! All the more reason to make your times in those outrealms truly memorable."
"Well, if we're all done here, we really need to hurry back to Castle Ylisse." says Robin. "We're glad to have new company with us, as well as one that's familiar."
"Right."says Frederick. "Let's get packed and go."
As the Shepherds, as well as their new allies head off, a person from a distance watches them as the only things of them showing are their legs in white armor before vanishing.
To Be Continued in Chapter 12.